Grouping mechanism for voting-machines.



0. C. ABBOTT. GROUPINGMEGHANISM FOB VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1907. Oct-y C. C. ABBOTT. GRQUPING MECHANISM FOB VOTING MACHINES.-

lA IEILIOATION FILED DEO.1'7, 1907.

wilmgaoeo 'Unirnn sTATns PATENT oiiiiioii.

CHARLES C. ABBOTTLOFPITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR-TO TRIUMPH VOT- 4ING( MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A lCORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' -GROUPING'MECHANISM Fon VOTING-MACHINES.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908'.

Application filed December 17, '1907. Serial No. 406,841.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known'that I, CHAnLEsC. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Pittsneld, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Grouping Mechanism for Voting-Machines, ofwhich .the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that portion/of the mechanism of a voting machine that has.

to do with group voting, so called.

rllhe invention is shown as a plied to a horizontal machine, in which t e names of party candidatesV are placed in horizontal ines and the names of all candidates for the same oi'fice are placed in vertical columns.

But the invention is, of course, equally appli.- cable to a vertical machine in, which the names of party 4candidates are placed in vertical columns and the names of all candidates for the same oliice are placed inhorizontal lines, or to a machine in which the naines of candidates for each oiiice are laced in alphabetical ord er without party co umns.

It is .one 'of vthe objects of this invention to produce a grouping mechanism that will enable the arts to be made from sheet metal, practical y all the parts of the present structure being dpunchiiigs, thereby reducing the cost of pro notion to the minimum.

A further object of the invention is to produce a grouping mechanism so constructed as to enable a maximum amount of slack in -the grouping chain to be taken up with a minimum amount of longitudinalcontracting movement of `the interlocking members, and with the least possible number of joints 'that can permit elongation lin continued use.

With these and other objects in view, tlie invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts,` im rovements and coinbinatioiis which will be iereinafter'described and then speciiically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part oi" this' specification, similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of so much of the mechanism of a voting machine as is required to.'` illustrate the present invention,

thegrouping chain being shown as locked against group voting and certain ofthe parts b eing shown in vertical section; Fig. 2 avertical section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, looking in the directionof the arrows; Fig. 3 a

transverse'section on tlie'line 3-3 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.. 4 a detail section on the line indicated by 2 in- Fig.l 2, looking in the direction of the arrow g Fig. 5 a detail front elevation illustrating .the operation of group voting, certain ofthe parts being' in vertical section; Fig. 6 a detail ver` tical section on a plane at a' right angle to thel plane of Fig. 1 andcorresponding therewith, the grouping chain being locked against' group voting; Fig. 7 a section on the line 7 7; K `in Fig. -6, looking the direction of the arrow; Fig. 8 a view similar to Fig.A 6 but cor-,p responding withFi .5 and-showingthegrou ing chain unlocke Fig. 9 a section on t e line'9-9 in Fig.'8, lookingin the direction off the arrow, Fig'. 10 a detail view ofthe group-y ing keylocking slide detached; Fig. l1, a detail elevation of a variant'form of grouping' key and Fig. 12 is a plan view corresponding with Fig. 11'.

10 denotes the base of a voting machine and 11 the grouping horizontal as a whole, said horizontal consisting of tWo plates 12 secured together by spacing rivets 13 and stud bolts 14 which pass through spacers 15 and are riveted to the base. f'

16 denotesthe grouping rollers which .are

'journaled on pins 17 in the grouping horizontal.

18 denotes .votingv members which are suitably journaled in the framework of the machine (not shown in the drawings as it'iorms no portion of the present invention). Each voting member comprises, lso far as the present invention is concerned, a shaft s eciicl ally indicated by'19,a voting lever in l,icated by 2O and a depressingarin indicated by 21.

22 denotes interlocking. members as a whole. These interlocking members correspond in number witli the columns of votingV members and each comprises side plates 23 and cam plates 24 movable obliquely relatively to the side plates. rFlie cam plates in each interlocking member correspond .in number with the voting members-1n a column.` When a voting member is operated, the-depressin arm 21 of the voting member engages t e corresponding cani plate of the 1nte'iilocking memberv and displaces it laterally,

as clearly shown in Fig. `5, the effect of which is to contract the interlocking member longitudinally by placing a slack therein. In settingup the machine, one voting member corresponding with eacli interlocking member is iio operated, thereby placing a slack in the interforming ribs 47, for a purpose presently to 65 locking member, which is then so set that no be explained, but does not extend to the further slacks can be placed therein, thereby backs of the racks leaving grooves 42 berendering it impossible for any voter to vote tween the outer members.

for but one candidate for any office. At the The movable racks likewise comprise two lower end ol each interlocking member is a' outer members 43 which are provided with 70 gear wheel 25 Journaled in a yoke 26 which is teeth and form the. rack proper. Between by anut 34 vided in its edge with grooves which are enl which are provided with -teeth and comprise adjustably connected to the interlocking these members are spacing p ates 44 which member. Each gear wheell meshes withl a I extend on the face or front side of the racks stationary rack 27 and a movable rack 28.

ers 43 forming ribs 48, and extend at 75 ber comprises a yoke 29 which is pivoted to, the lower side plates 23 of the interlocking member, as at 30, a spacer 3l being placed between said plates. A. screw 32 asses through the base of each yoke 26 and 1s held against rotation by an angular, head 33 engaging the side pieces of the yoke. Each screw 32 also passes freely throu h the base of the corresponding yoke 29 and is engaged ying between the side pieces of the yoke. In order to lock the nut against rotation after adjustment thereby preventing elongation of the connection, the nut is probers 43 leaving ribs 45.

The intermeshing of the gear wheels and racks is as follows: The ribs 47 of stationary racks 27 and the ribs 48 of movable racks 2S 80 engage the grooves 46 in gear wheels 25,- one side of the groove in each gear wheel receiving one of said ribs and te opposite side of the groove inthe gear wheel receiving the other rib, and the ribs on the backs of the 85 movable racks engage the grooves 42 in the backsy of the stationary racks. I thus insure free movement-of the arts and prevent binding by preventing t ie teeth of the gear wheels rom meshing too deeply with the teeth of the racks. In practice the gear wheels and racks fit very loosely, thereby insuring the most perfect freedom of movement and still retaining the gear wheels and racks in pro er mesh and alinement. The lower ends o the movable racks are provided gaged by ribs 35 on the lnner face of the yoke.' To adjust the height of yoke 26 and ear wheel 25, said yoke and the correspon ing movable rack v28 are raised to permit 4the nut to pass over ribs 85 on the inner face of the yoke. After adjustment, grooves in the nut are placed in engagement with the'ribs and the Weight of the parts will .lock the nut against rotation.

A novel feature of both the racks and 'the gear wheels is that'they are made of punchlngs from sheet metal, thereby reducing the cost of construction to the minimum. Each gear wheel comprises two outer members 36 ternately about rollers 49 on the .movable 1'00 adjustably connected to some fixed portion the gear proper. Between these members is a spacing disk 37 Whose diameter is a proximately the diameter of the outermem ers at the base of the teeth. Thatis to sa the two rows of teeth of .each gear wheel extend beyond the s acing disk or inner member of the gear whee leaving a peripheral groove 46 beillustrated in Figs. l to 9, inclusive, is a rotween them. The outer members of each tary key which is indicated by 54. This key gear wheel are provided with outwardlyextends through holes in the plates of the curved bosses as at 38, see Figs. 2 and 3, 4grouping horizontal, turning freely therein, 11.5 thereby forming a hub for each gear wheel and also through holes in an inverted U- which acts as a bearingy a ainst the inner shaped supporting plate 55 which is rigidly sides of the yoke 26. The t ree members of secured to Vthe grouping horizontal. The i11- each ear wheel are secured together by a ner end of the key is headed, as at 56, onthe 4 shoul ered stud 39 which also serves as the outer side of one olv the plates of thegrouping 120 journal of the gear wheel in the side pieces oi' horizontal to prevent its withdrawal and the the yoke. other end is bent to form a hand piece 57 out- .Each stationary rack comprises two outer side the supporting plate. ln one side of members 40 which are provided with teeth eachgrou ing key, between the plates ofthe and form the rack proper. Between these grouping -lorizontah is a recess 58 and at 125 members is a spacing plate 4l which extends right angles to said recess and in alinement on the face or front slde of the racks to ap- I with the supporting plate is va groove 59. proximately the tips ofthe teeth of members The links of grouping chain 51 are made nar- 'portion of the present invention.

In ordinary voting, the grouping chain is locked to each of the grouping rollers b a grouping key. The form of grouping 'ey rowest. attheir mid-length, leaving depres- Vsions iintermediate thevrivets, which are which are 'specifically indicated by 63, will not ass between them, so that when a grouping' rey is turned to the locking position, 'that is withthe recess 58 lying on the side opposite tothe grouping chain, said chain will be rigidly locked against movement in either direotion (see Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7). By giving a grouplng key a half turn trom the-locking position, it 1s placed inthe unlocking position, that is with the recess o n the side to-` ward the grouping chain, as in Figs. vSand 9. When a number of grouping keys are in this position, the unlocked portion of the grouping chain may be moved freely in either direction. p

In order to lock the grouping keys in either the locking or the unlocking position, I pro'- vide key locking slides 64, which pass through slots 65 in the rounded upper edge of U-shaped supporting plate and lie between the sides of said plate. These.locking slides are retained in any position in which lthey may be placed by frictional engagement with the supporting plate. Each key locking slide is provided with an opening 66 wliich receives the corresponding grouping key and permits it to turn freely and with a slot 67 narrower than the opening and narrower than the diameter of the key which eX- tends irom the opening longitudinally of the slide. The upper end of each key locking slide is provided witha 'finger piece 68 for convenience in operation. provided in the upper edges oi plates l2 ci. the grouping horizontal to provide clearance `ioi movable racks 28. The operation oiz the key locking slides will be obvious. When a slide is raised and thc groupingkey is lying in opening`66, the key may be rotated freely to place it in the locking position, as in Figs.

1, 2, 6 and 7, erin the unlocking position, as in Figs. S and 9. When a grouping key is'in either oi' these positions it may he locked thereby pushing the corresponding key locking slide downward. ln these positions ot the grouping key, the groove 59. in the key will be in alinement with slot 67 in the locking slide so that the grooved portion of the key will pass into the slot in the slide when the latter is moved downward and the key will be thereby locked against rotation.

The modiiied form of grouping key illuslrated in Figs. l] and lZ-dii'ers from the other form in that instead of being rotary it 'slidesin and out and may be removed from the machine when it is set for group voting if preferred. 70 denotes a grouping key of the modiiied form which is adapted to slide grouping 'horizontal and' also through holes in Ll-shaped supporting plate 55. The end oi the key is made angular, as at 7l, and in the locking position engages a corresponding angularopening in the inner plate of base l() of the machine (see Fig.v 12). Keys 70 are also rovided with grooves 7 2 and 7 3, either of w ich is adapted to register with slots 67 in key locking slides 64, the same as in the "locking or locking positions, respectively. In group voting, a grouping key may be it outward until slot 72 is in alinement 4with the slot inthe corresponding locking slide and then moving the slide downward until the grooved portion oi the key passes into slot 67 in the locking slide,'or ii' preferred the grouping key may be removed, the slide being left raised. lVhen the grouping key is withdrawn to the unlocking position or removed from the machine, the grouping chain will pass over the grouping rollers freely. When the grouping key is in the locking position, that is in engagement with a depression 61 in a chain' link, the grouping ke and thev grouping chain against movement in either direction, as in the other form. In moving the grouping key to the locking position, the angular end thereof may beturned horizontally or at any required angle, should a depression 61 in the chain not be inA aXact alinement therewith, and passed under the chain to raise the latter to the locking position, said. angular end being then placed in engagement with the corresponding opening in the inner.' plate of base il), and then the inciting slide may be moved downward, groove 73 in the grouping key registering with slot 67 in the locking slide, thereby rigidly locking the grouping chain against movement in either direction.

It will ot course be understood that vin voting machines as ordinarily constructed, for example in the Triumph voting machine, the other end of each interlocking member (not shown) is connected to the corresponding portion oi theindependent voting mechanism (not shown as it 'forms no portion of the present invention). In ordinary voting, the groupinK chain is locked to each-of the grouping rol ers by means of a grouping key, as in Figs. l, 2, 6 and 7. in the normal posimember has been operated, the interlocking and yokes26 carrying gear wheels 25 and also movable racks 28wi ,other form, to lock the key in either the untion of the parts, that is when-no voting be at their lowered' in and outthrough holes in theplates of the locked in the unlocking position by drawing -f the corresponding grouping roller wil lock' v members will .be at their elongated position position, as in Figs. 1 and 2. members are operated, a slack will be placed in the corresponding interlocking member by each operated voting member and the interlocking members will be correspondingly contracted, thereby raising yokes 26 and gear wheels 25 and also raising the corresponding movable racks 2'8, as in Fig. 5,4 in which the rst and third movable racks are shown as raised one slack each and the second movable rack is shown as raised two slacks by the operation of two voting members, each of which has placed a slack in the corresponding interlocking member. Suppose, for example, that the operation of a voting member contracts the corres onding interlocking memberl longitudinal y twotenths oi an inch,- the corresponding gear wheel 25 will be raised the same distance and, being meshed with a stationar rack 27 and a movable rack 28, will raise tlie latter fourtenths of an inch and the raising of the mov- When voting able rackwill take up eight-tenths of an inch of slack in grouping chain 5l.. That is to say, the amount of slack taken up by the grouping chain will be equal to four times the amount the interlocking member is contracted longitudinally.

The o eration is as follows: Insetting up the maciiine for regular voting, one slack is placed in each interlocking member by o erating one voting member correspon ing therewith, then the grouping chain is tightened up so as to leave no slack therein and all of the grouping keys are placed in the locking position, Ithereby locki-n the grouping chain to the grouping rolFers so that there can be no movement in either direction. The rule for settinfr up the machine for group voting is simp y to lace all grou ing keys between the lirst and ast column o the group in the unlocking position, as in Fig. 5. Su pose, for exam le, that the three interloc ring members ilustrated in Fig. 5 were to be grouped; that is to say, that a voter is to be permitted to vote forthree candidates for the same oiiice. The oiiicials having the election in charge would place the two intermediate grouping keysin the unlocking position, as shown, thereby leaving the grouping chain free to move in either. direction. As three candidates are to be voted for, it is necessary to provide for casting the three votes all in one column, or two `in one column and one in either of the others, or if the voter so elects, one in each of the columns. In other words, it is necessary to make the slack in the interlocking members transferable, which is done by 'placing the grouping keys in the u-nlockiriv` position, thereby permitting the slacks to e transferred from one interlockin member to yanother by means ot' the movab e racks and the grouping chain. To set up the machine again for ordinary -movable racks,

voting, it would simply all the grouping keys in the locking iosition, a's in Figs. l, 2, 6 and 7, thereby loclrin the grouping chain again to the groupinfr ro lers.

t has already been explainer txliat the amount of movement of a movable rack when the corresponding interlocking member is contracted longitudinally by the operation of a voting member will be double the amount of contraction of the interlocking member and that the amount of slack taken up in the grouping chain will be double the amount of movement of the movable rack or four times the longitudinal contraction of the interlocking member. This construction renders it practically impossible to produce suliicient strain upon the grouping chain to enable a voter to cast an additional or fraudulent vote, the construction being especially valuable when a large number oi co umns are included in the group, for the reason that the movement of the parts is always free, and the number of joints to which strain can be a plied in use is reduced to the minimum, so`thlat stretching of the members is rendered practically im ossible.

Having thus describe( my invention I claim:

l. In a voting machine, tne combination with voting members and interlocking inembers carrying gear Wheels, of stationary racks and movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the movable racks, grouping rollers intermediate the rollers on the movablev racks and a grouping chain passing alternately about the ro 1ers on the movable racks and the grouping rollers.

2. In a voting machine, the combination be necessary to place with voting members and interlocking members carrying gear Wheels, of stationary racks and movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the movable racks, grouping rollers intermediate the rollers on the movable racks, a grouping chain passing alternately about the rollers on the movable racks and the grouping rollers, and means for locking the grouping chain to the grouping rollers.

In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members carrying gear wheels, of stationary racks land movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the groupin rollers intermediate the rollers on the Inova le racks, a grouping chain passing alternately about the rollers on the movable racks and the grou ing rollers, and grouping keys for locking t e grouping chain to the grouping rollers.

4. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking members carrying gear wheels, ol stationary racks and movable racks engaging opposite faces movable racks, grouping rollers intermediate with voting members chain com rising the rollers on the movable racks, a grouping chain, grouping keys adapted to engage the chain and lock the chain to the grouping rollers, and means for locking the grouping keys in the locking or unlocking position.

5. In a voting machine', the combination with voting members and interlocking memi bers carrying gear wheels, of stationary racks and movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the movable racks, grouping rollersintermediate the rollers on the movable racks, a grouping chain passing alternately about the rollers on the movable racks and the grouping rollers,-

grouping keys for locking the grouv )ing chain to thegrouping rollers, and key locking slides for locking vthe grouping keys in the locking or unlocking position. Y 6. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and-interlocking members carrying gear wheels, of stationary racks and movable-'racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the movable racks, grouping rollers intermediate the rollersv on the movable racks, a grouping chain com rising links having depressions at their'mid'- en th and grouping keys adapted to engage sai depressions to lock the grouping chain to the grouping rollers.

7. In a voting machine, the combination and interlocking members carrying gear Wheels, of stationary racks and movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels,rollers carried by the movablev racks, grouping rollers intermediate the rollers on the movable racks, a grouping links having depressions at their midength and rotary grouping keys which are adapted to lock the grouping chain to the grouping rollers for ordinary voting and are provided in one side with recesses which permit the'. grouping chain to pass freelyingroup voting.

8. In a voting machine, the combination with voting members andinterlocking mem- 'of stationary racks l bers carrying gear wheels, and movable racks engaging opposite faces of the gear wheels, rollers carried by the movable racks, grouping rollers intermediate the rollers on the movable racks a 'frouping chain, grouping keys adapted to ock the grouping chain to the grouping rollers for ordinary vting and .having recesses which permit the grouping chain to pass freely l'in group vot'ing and ,grooves anc key locking slides having openings which receive the' grouping keys and l slots narrower than the openingsl and extending therefrom which are adapted to register with the slotsin-the grouping ke s to lock the latter in the locking or unloc ing position. .9. In a voting machine, with movable racks carrying rollers, a` groupthe combination having openings which receive thev keys and slots narrower than the openings and eXtend` 'said grouping keys being adapted to lock the grouping chainv to 'the ing therefrom',

grouping rollers and when the recesses are turned toward the rollers'to permit the chain to pass freely and the slots in the slides being adapted to register with the groovesuin the l keys to lock the keys in either the locking or unlocking position. V

10. Ina voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking mem.-

bers, of gear Wheels, yokes in which they are l journaled, adjustable connections between the yokes and theinterlocking members and stationary and`movable racks engaging the opposite faces of the gear wheels.

11. In a voting machine,

chain passing alterand key locking slides l the combination with voting members and interlocking memy bers,of gear Wheels, yokes 26 in which they are journaled, yokes 29 connected to the interlocking members and provided with ribs, screws passing through said yokes and hav.- ing heads engaging yokes 26,V nuts on the screws which engage the ribs, for the urpose set-forth, andstationary and movab e racks engaging the opposite faces of the gear Wheels.

12.r In a voting machine, the combination with voting members and interlocking meining members and having central peripheral grooves, stationary rackshaving central ribs engaging said grooves and central grooves in their backs and movable racks having central ribs engaging the grooves in the gear Wheels and other ribs engaging the grooves in the backs of the stationary racks, substantially as described, for the purpose s 'ecified 13. In a voting machine, With voting members and interlocking mem,- bers, of gear Wheels comprising outer members provided with teeth., between the members spacing disks leaving grooves between the outer members and stationary and movhaving teeth engaging the gear wheels, said stationary racks thaving grooves in their backs and ribs on theirl faces engaging the `grooves in the gear wheels and said movable vracks havin r'ooves in t egear Wheels and backs engaging tlije grooves in ribs on their the backs of with voting members and interlocking members, of gear wheels carried by the interlockable racks .each comprising outer members ribs -oii their faces engaging the.

the com ination the stationary racks, substantially as de- -the spacing plates of the movable racks formstationary and movable. racks ing outer-members having bers, of gear wheels carried by the interlockl mg members and having teeth withl spacing disks between them and central per1pheral grooves,` and teeth engaging the gear wheels and spacing plates, said spaclng plates forminvl grooves in the backs of the gear wheel and a rib on the 'ends of said plates and a stationary rac is and ribs on the faces thereof engaging the grooves 1n the gear wheels, and

mg ribs on the faces 'rooves in the gear acks which. engage the grooves in the backs of the stationary racks.

15. In a voting machine, the combination with an interlocking member and a double gear wheel carried by said member and having a groove in its periphery, of a stationary double rack engaged by said gear wheel and a .movable rack comprising outer plates having teeth on their faces which engage the gear Wheel, a roller journaled between the lower spacing plate between said outer plates which forms a rib between the teeth to engage the groove in the back of said movthereof which engage the able rack.

each compris- 'wheels and ribs on the.

comprising outer members wit l16,. In a voting machine, the combination h an interlocking member and a vdouble gear wheel carried by said member and having a groove in yits periphery, of a stationargT rack comprisingouter plates having teeth on their faces and a spacing plate between said outer plateswhi'ch forms a lrib between the teeth to engage the Groove in the gear wheel and leaves a'centra groove in the back of said stationary rack, and a doublemovable rack which also'engages the 'ear wheel.

17. In a voting machine, tV e combination with an interlocking member' and a gear wheel carried by said member and comprising outer plates having teeth on their peripheries and outwardly curved bosses, and a spacing plate between the outer plates which eaves a` peripheral groove between said plates, of a doublevstationary rack and a double movable rack which engage the gear wheel Aand are provided with ribs engaging- CHARLES C. ABBOTT. lVitnes'ses:

GEO. A. B. HAWLEY, Roscoe S. COLLIN. 

